Using Information Technology as a Strategic Tool for the Prospective Payment System

Abstract

Prospective Payment Systems all share certain common attributes. It is therefore useful for home care to look back at the experiences of hospitals in adapting to PPS. Among the lessons to be learned is the critical role of information technology, and its use in the direct clinical care process. The ultimate goal must be real business process improvement. This is greatly facilitated in an environment where all departments of the business collect and share useful information in a timely manner. The care of patients in the home must be viewed as one of these departments and must use information technology in a manner that is fully integrated with the rest of the business. In time, patients in their home will come to be viewed as a legitimate target for information systems with many of the same objectives we now have for the information systems used by our skilled clinicians.

Keywords

clinical information systems,computer-based patient records,grouper information systems,point-of-care prospective payment system

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References

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Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration. Federal Register. Medicare program: prospective payment system for home health agencies; proposed rule. Thursday, October 28, 1999, Part II, 42CFR, parts 409, 410, 411, etc. Case studies 1 &2, page 58179.